Q Why do gallstones form? I am a woman in my 30s who was suddenly diagnosed.
A Gallstones form when cholesterol in bile becomes supersaturated or when bile stagnates in the gallbladder or bile ducts and crystallizes. Female hormones, obesity, pregnancy, and rapid weight loss are major risk factors, and gallstones are relatively common in women in their 30s–40s.
Detailed Answer
Bile is a fluid that aids fat digestion, produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder. When cholesterol becomes supersaturated or gallbladder contractile function declines slowing bile flow, solid stones form. Female hormones (estrogen) increase cholesterol secretion into bile and reduce gallbladder motility, resulting in a higher incidence in women.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
Korean medicine views gallstone formation as a state where the qi of the liver and gallbladder is blocked, preventing smooth flow of bile (liver qi stagnation/qi stagnation). Choleretic prescriptions that relieve qi stagnation and damp-heat and promote bile circulation are used to support gallbladder function.
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